Chapter 8. Executing your content with Automation content navigator

Now that you have your automation execution environments built, you can use Ansible content navigator in order to validate that the content will be run in the same manner as the automation controller will run it.

8.1. Execute Ansible playbooks with Automation content navigator

As a content creator, you can execute your Ansible playbooks with Automation content navigator and interactively delve into the results of each play and task to verify or troubleshoot the playbook. You can also execute your Ansible playbooks inside an execution environment and without an execution environment to compare and troubleshoot any problems.

8.1.1. Executing a playbook from Automation content navigator

You can run Ansible playbooks with the Automation content navigator text-based user interface to follow the execution of the tasks and delve into the results of each task.

Prerequisites

  • A playbook.
  • A valid inventory file if not using localhost or an inventory plugin.

Procedure

  1. Start Automation content navigator 

    $ ansible-navigator

  2. Run the playbook. You can optionally type ansible-navigator run simple-playbook.yml -i inventory.yml to directly run the playbook. 

    $ :run

  3. Verify or add the inventory and any other command line parameters. 

    INVENTORY OR PLAYBOOK NOT FOUND, PLEASE CONFIRM THE FOLLOWING
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   Path to playbook: /home/ansible-navigator_demo/simple_playbook.yml
   Inventory source: /home/ansible-navigator-demo/inventory.yml
  Additional command line parameters: Please provide a value (optional)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
                                                           Submit Cancel

  4. Tab to Submit and hit Enter. You should see the tasks executing.

    navigator play list

  5. Type the number next to a play to step into the play results, or type :<number> for numbers above 9.

    navigator task list

    Notice failed tasks show up in red if you have colors enabled for Automation content navigator.

  6. Type the number next to a task to review the task results, or type :<number> for numbers above 9.

    navigator task output failed

  7. Optionally, type :doc bring up the documentation for the module or plugin used in the task to aid in troubleshooting. 

    ANSIBLE.BUILTIN.PACKAGE_FACTS (MODULE)
  0│---
  1│doc:
  2│  author:
  3│  - Matthew Jones (@matburt)
  4│  - Brian Coca (@bcoca)
  5│  - Adam Miller (@maxamillion)
  6│  collection: ansible.builtin
  7│  description:
  8│  - Return information about installed packages as facts.
<... output omitted ...>
 11│  module: package_facts
 12│  notes:
 13│  - Supports C(check_mode).
 14│  options:
 15│    manager:
 16│      choices:
 17│      - auto
 18│      - rpm
 19│      - apt
 20│      - portage
 21│      - pkg
 22│      - pacman

<... output truncated ...>

Additional resources

8.1.2. Reviewing playbook results with an Automation content navigator artifact file

Automation content navigator saves the results of the playbook run in a JSON artifact file. You can use this file to share the playbook results with someone else, save it for security or compliance reasons, or review and troubleshoot later. You only need the artifact file to review the playbook run. You do not need access to the playbook itself or inventory access.

Prerequisites

  • A Automation content navigator artifact JSON file from a playbook run.

Procedure

  • Start Automation content navigator with the artifact file 

    $ ansible-navigator replay simple_playbook_artifact.json

    1. Review the playbook results that match when the playbook ran.

      navigator artifact replay

You can now type the number next to the plays and tasks to step into each to review the results, as you would after executing the playbook.

Additional resources